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February 2012 | District 4 Newsletter
Dear Friends,
According to a report released last week from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the U.S. is simply not churning out enough young workers with college degrees in the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). Other research has shown that job creation in STEM fields will outpace non-STEM jobs significantly. In fact, the U.S. may be looking at a shortage of nearly three million STEM workers by 2018. This has far-reaching consequences not just for the U.S and California, but for San Mateo County, too.
A real change in STEM education requires the participation of all of us, from our schools and universities to the private sector, community-based organizations, and all levels of government. Here in San Mateo County, we are looking ahead to future demands for a workforce strong in STEM skills. While education is not the purview of county government, it’s in our county’s best interest to ensure that we have a workforce with strong math and science skills.
That’s why my colleagues on the Board of Supervisors and I established the Math and Science Teacher Innovation Awards. These awards provide teachers with the opportunity to engage students through the innovative use of technology and creative, interactive projects. This year, the Board gave six awards of up to $5000 each to eight San Mateo County 4th-6th grade educators for innovative math and science school-based projects. The following schools and teachers were granted 2011-12 Math and Science Teacher Innovation Awards:
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Bayside STEM Academy, San Mateo – James Brunner - $3,485 to purchase RED (ReallyEasyData) data collection tools in physics and thermal energy lab projects.
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Benjamin Franklin Intermediate School, Colma – Yoko Izumi - $4,926 to purchase iPads that will allow for virtual field trips to study geology, interaction with Stanford University professionals and other applications for studying earth science.
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La Honda Elementary School, La Honda, and Pescadero Elementary School, Pescadero – Mitch Slater - $5,000 to purchase FOSS (Full Option Science System) Kits that provide hands-on experiments to study biology, physics, geology and the solar system.
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McKinley School, Burlingame – Paula Valerio - $4,800 to purchase iPads to explore the science of health, medicine and human anatomy.
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Parkway Heights Middle School, South San Francisco – Dan Hung and Jocelyn Ting - $3,125 to purchase materials to conduct physics experiments for an after-school STEM Club.
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Sandpiper Elementary School, Redwood Shores – Nicole LaCount and Jeffrey Wong - $4,968 for LabQuest data collection kits to study climate change and biodiversity.
I applaud this year’s winners for giving students the opportunity to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills. By engaging youth around the math and sciences early on, they can be excited about what they learn in school and take ownership of their academic success. And that benefits all of us.
Sincerely,
Rose
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Are you ready for the 2012 season of Take A Hike? We certainly are! And we're looking forward to seeing everyone again. This year, we've scheduled each hike for the third Saturday of the month. So mark your calendars...
- April 21 - Wunderlich Park (Woodside)
- May 19 - Memorial Park (Loma Mar)
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June 16 - Edgewood Park (Redwood City)
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July 21 - Crystal Springs (San Mateo)
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August 18 - Pillar Point (Moss Beach)
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September 15 - San Bruno Mountain (Brisbane)
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October 20 - Huddart Park (Woodside)
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November 23 - Pick a Park, Take A Hike
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Back in January, Supervisor Rose Jacobs Gibson presented a proclamation honoring National Mentoring Month. By setting a positive example and sharing their time, knowledge, and experience, mentors build character, encourage success, and expand the universe of our county’s young people. They also play a powerful role in preventing substance abuse and youth violence, reducing truancy, and boosting academic achievement. There is a critical need for mentors right now, so if you or someone you know might be interested in becoming a mentor, please contact Friends for Youth. Friends for Youth has been serving San Mateo County since 1979, matching youth with mentors to help young people achieve their potential. For more information, please call (650) 368-4444 or visit www.friendsforyouth.org. |
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May 7-11 is Affordable Housing Week, a series of community events designed to inform residents about actions they can take to make affordable housing a reality in our community. One of the week’s highlights is the Housing Endowment and Regional Trust (HEART) of San Mateo County’s annual luncheon, which brings together over 300 community, business, and elected officials in support of affordable housing in San Mateo County. This year’s event will be on Monday, May 7, at the South San Francisco Conference Center. The luncheon will spotlight new homeowners and seniors who have benefited from HEART’s downpayment assistance program, Opening Doors in Our Community. These popular loans are available to employees or residents who want to purchase their first home or want to move closer to transit. We’re very excited to announce that this year’s keynote speaker will be Lori Goler, Vice President of People (Human Resources and Housing) at Facebook. For more information about the luncheon, visit HEART’s web page at www.heartofsmc.org. |
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The Jail Planning Unit has made considerable progress with planning for the new jail including site acquisition, functional plans, and size and scope approval. They have also released an RFQ for architectural and engineering services. Currently, the unit is in discussions with the City of Redwood City about the possibility of a shared area for construction staging needs. After it was announced that San Mateo County was not invited by the state to apply for up to $100 million in jail construction funds, County staff met with representatives from California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDRC) and Assembly Member Jerry Hill’s office to get a better understanding of the process used to award these funds. San Mateo County has been placed in the large-counties population category and remains in position #9 behind several other counties, including Los Angeles, San Diego, Riverside, Sacramento, Santa Clara, and Fresno. For more information, visit www.smcsheriff.com/jail-planning. |
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Remember to get your Coast2Coast Discount Prescription Card! This is a free discount program helping consumers save money on prescription drugs and certain healthcare services. For each prescription filled using the card, a portion of the money is put back into San Mateo County to fund public projects. Benefits include:
- Everyone qualifies and there is no expiration date. There are no health, age, or income restrictions and the card can be used as often as needed.
- Save up to 75% on over 60,000 brand name or generic drugs at thousands of participating pharmacies, including all major chains and most independents.
- Discounts on certain Dental, Vision, Hearing, Lab Services, Diabetes Supplies, and even some pet prescriptions are available.
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